The Black Friday sales have begun, but early signs are that UK stores have seen smaller crowds than last year.

UK stores opened their doors early and cut-price deals were put online overnight, with analysts predicting record sales.

Paul Green, business development manager at retail systems integrator, Tryzens said Black Friday should be got rid of altogether.

"Black Friday makes little sense in the UK. Without Thanksgiving, the event's focus point, the decision to concentrate so many resources and discounts on a Friday in November seems arbitrary at best and significantly disruptive at worst."

Why do people act the way they do on Black Friday?
Police have warned retailers in the UK for some time that they must have enough security to handle Black Friday sales. But why does the prospect of a deal send some customers into a frenzy?

Footage of people fighting over TV sets made headlines on Black Friday last year. The sales led to arrests as well as injuries. A woman broke her wrist in a crush in Manchester while shoppers scrambled to get the best deals.

Obviously it's not the major factor but I kind of do think there's a bit of it. Not necessarily the rejection of an Americanism, more the fact that there are only a limited number of people in the UK who want to be shown on television fighting over a supermarket brand television.